MARC Follow-up
You were asking …. about wind turbines
Members brought their questions and concerns about wind turbines to a Town Hall meeting in 2011. The members were looking for more information and education. (more…)
Rental Licensing: Status Update
When the subject of rental licensing first appeared in Hamilton in 2009, the REALTORS® Association of Hamilton-Burlington met with city staff and members of council to discuss the concerns we had. Over three years later our concerns have not changed; in fact, a few new concerns have arisen since the program of proactive bylaw enforcement took effect. (more…)
Information on the City of Hamilton’s sign by-law
Based on complaints received from some concerned members, we are taking this opportunity to remind all REALTORS® about the rules surrounding the use of signs in the city of Hamilton. (more…)
Government Relations – Rental Property Licensing
Hamilton
Background
On January 1, 2007, the Municipal Statute Law Amendment Act, 2006 (Bill 130) made significant changes to the Municipal Act, 2001, including changing Part IV (Licences) respecting business licensing and the regulations under this Part. These changes included eliminating the portion which had prohibited municipalities from licensing the business of renting residential units.
(more…)
Competition Bureau Threatens to Dismantle Privacy Safeguards of Home Sales: 75% of Ontarians Opposed
The Toronto Real Estate Board (TREB) released the results of an Angus Reid Vision Critical poll. The vast majority of Ontarians clearly expressed their opposition to abandoning the privacy safeguards of the current MLS® system.
Read the entire report here.
Political Issues – CREA proposal to Stimulate Community Reinvestment
Budget 2012 provides the opportunity to remove a major obstacle preventing income property reinvestment by allowing owners to defer previously written-off depreciation [Capital Cost Allowance (CCA)] when they sell in order to reinvest. Income property investors face taxation on CCA when they sell, and are often left with insufficient funds after tax to acquire a property of similar value.  Consequently, many hold on to properties instead of reinvesting in the community.
(more…)
Government Relations Update
State of the City Address
Burlington Mayor Rick Goldring presented his first State of the City address to a sold-out audience of 400 Burlington business people and residents at a breakfast held by the Burlington Chamber of Commerce on Thursday, January 20, 2011.Â
Goldring focused on the current state of the city, his vision for the city as an “affordable, inclusive and complete†community and his action plan for the next few years. He noted that Burlington weathered the recession well and that capital spending costs from the previous two years had been lower than budgeted precisely because the City kept building during the recession when resources were available and costs reduced.
Challenges for the City in the coming years will be in addressing Burlington’s slowing growth rate (which will result in less revenue) and the changing demographic of the city, where Burlington will soon see 20% of its population at retirement age or older.
Goldring pointed out that in while Burlington itself provides excellent amenities, residents should also appreciate and embrace the amenities, services and facilities immediately surrounding the city:Â education opportunities at McMaster University, Mohawk and Sheridan Colleges; the emerging technology centre in Kitchener-Waterloo; and the world-renowned wine district in Niagara among them.
Community engagement was a recurring theme throughout the presentation, and the mayor stressed the importance of citizens’ input in planning for the future.Â
Anticipating attendees’ interest in the Burlington pier, Goldring noted that the new Council had already spent 14 hours in briefings about the pier and are “united in their resolve to complete this project.â€Â He added that the pier will be completed as quickly and as cost-effectively as possible.
Government Relations Update
Why light rail is an investment worth making
LRT will stimulate our economy by:
- Increasing land value by 8 to 14 percent within 800m of the line and particularly within close proximity to station areas
- Increasing assessment value as high value, high density, mixed use land parcels can produce higher assessments which help to pay for the capital and operating costs of the system
- Creating jobs in the initial design and construction stage, as well as in the ongoing operations and maintenance phase. It is estimated, that approximately 6,000 jobs would be created due to construction expenditures combined with over 1,000 ongoing jobs due to regular operations and maintenance.
- Encouraging urban development:Â permanence of the LRT line allows both riders and developers to have a vision, plan ahead, and create compact urban communities knowing it has long-term viability
- Attracting private investment to build new neighbourhoods and renew existing ones. Studies show that LRT supports local economic development and brings more shoppers to local businesses.
LRT will improve the quality of life by:
- Making Hamilton more accessible, LRT will be within 800 metres to almost 20 percent of Hamilton’s residents and employment
- Offering time savings calculated at $647 million a year for existing transit users, new transit users and auto users
- Offering competitive journey times and reliability
- Increasing passenger comfort
- Increasing public access to employment areas, residential properties, commercial districts and municipal services, increasing the connectivity and vibrancy of urban areas
- Connecting Hamilton’s priority neighbourhoods, as outlined in the Hamilton Spectator’s Code Red study, to more employment, educational, healthcare, recreational and cultural opportunities
- Encouraging healthier lifestyles
- Reducing collisions as a result of declining automobile usage with estimated savings of $18 million over a 30 year period
From “Funding Proposal: Moving Hamilton forward with LRTâ€, www.hamilton.ca/rapid-transit
Government Relations – CALL TO ACTION:
Potential Changes to Mortgage Financing Rules
There is strong speculation the federal government may further tighten mortgage financing rules; in particular, raise down payment requirements and shorten amortization periods.
It is important for members to respectfully write their Member of Parliament and explain the negative impacts additional mortgage financing rule changes would have on homebuyers, homeowners and the economy.
Visit www.rahb.ca/GR to find a draft letter and contact information for your MP.
Hamilton ByLaw of the Month
Let It Snow! Â Let It Snow! Â Let It Snow!
SOS – Snow Off SidewalksÂ
The City of Hamilton’s Snow Removal Bylaw # 03-290 requires that property owners, occupants and businesses clear snow and ice from all City sidewalks surrounding their property within 24 hours of a snowfall. It is illegal to place or throw snow and ice on a road or boulevard as it may interfere with traffic and may cause an accident. (more…)
FINTRAC Update
The monetary penalties called for in the 2008 legislation went into effect on December 30, 2008.
Violations are classified by the Regulations as “Minor”, Serious or “Very Seriousâ€, and carry maximum penalties accordingly. The Administrative Monetary Penalty (AMP) program also has maximum penalties for individuals and entities (e.g. corporations) as follows:
Minor (individual/entity): $1 to $1,000
Serious (individual/entity): $1 to $100,000
Very Serious (individual): $1 to $100,000
Very Serious (entity): $1 to $500,000
REALTORS® welcome federal housing initiatives in stimulating Canadian economy
The Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA) welcomes the federal government initiatives to stimulate economic growth outlined in the 2009 budget, especially those that will encourage home ownership in Canada. The association applauds the government for recognizing the economic importance of the housing industry in some of the budget measures. “The change announced to the popular Home Buyers’ Plan will help Canadians who want to own their own home, and do it in a responsible way that is not a major drain on taxpayers,” says the President of The Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA), Calvin Lindberg.